wake island vegetation and flora, 1961-1963

ATOLL RESEARCH BULLETIN No. 123

WAKE ISLAND VEGETATION AND FLORA, 1961-1963 by F. R. Fosberg and M.-H. Sachet

Issued by

TIIE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Washington, D. C., U. S. A.

March 30, 1969

WAKE ISLAND VEGETATION AND FLORA, 1961-1963

by F. R. Fosberg and M.-H. Sachet

I n 1959 we summarized o b s e r v a t i o n s on t h e v e g e t a t i o n and f l o r a made on f o u r s h o r t v i s i t s t o Wake I s l a n d i n 1951, 1952 and 1953, along w i t h what was a l r e a d y known ( A t o l l Research B u l l e t i n 6 7 , 1959). Par- t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n was g i v e n t o t h e e f f e c t s on t h e v e g e t a t i o n o f t h e typhoon of September 16, 1952. A l i s t o f t h e v a s c u l a r f l o r a w i t h c i t a - t i o n s o f specimens, b r i e f c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n s o f s p e c i e s , and n o t e s on occurrence was a p r i n c i p a l p a r t o f t h a t p a p e r .

In September 1961 M.-H. Sachet s p e n t a week on t h e i s l a n d making o b s e r v a t i o n s on t h e v e g e t a t i o n , f l o r a and g e n e r a l ecology through t h e c o u r t e s y o f D r . Bruce Halstead. In March 1963, sponsored by t h e P a c i f i c S c i e n c e Board and t h e O f f i c e o f Naval Research, M.-H. Sachet and F. R . Fosberg v i s i t e d t h e i s l a n d w i t h R . H . Alexander f o r f o u r d a y s , observing changes i n t h e v e g e t a t i o n and looking f o r t r a c e s o f t h e e f f e c t s o f t h e 1952 typhoon, which had been t h e o b j e c t of a s p e c i a l s t u d y by Fosberg i n 1953 (ARB 67, 1959). A few p l a n t s were c o l l e c t e d on each o f t h e s e v i s i t s . Observations made on t h e s e t r i p s a r e b e l a t e d l y o f f e r e d h e r e , with n o t e s on t h e changes from t e n y e a r s e a r l i e r . A few r e c o r d s have been added from c o l l e c t i o n s made by M r . R. W . McFarlane, who made s e v e r a l v i s i t s t o Wake i n 1963-1965 under t h e a u s p i c e s o f t h e P a c i f i c Ocean B i o l o g i c a l Survey Program, a l s o one o r two by o l d e r c o l l e c t o r s . The scope of t h i s p a p e r i s t h e same a s t h a t o f t h e 1959 one. O b s e r v a t i o n s made on o t h e r a s p e c t s of t h e i s l a n d w i l l be p u t on r e c o r d i n a n o t h e r p a p e r . Notes on t h e b i r d s were i n c l u d e d i n ARB 114, 1966.

E f f e c t s of 1952 Typhoon

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The only t h i n g worth commenting on under t h i s heading i s t h e almost complete l a c k o f any n o t i c e a b l e remaining e f f e c t s . An occa- s i o n a l dead T o u r n e f o r t i a t r e e o r dead branch on one with b a r k abraded o f f may s t i l l be s e e n i n some a r e a s of s c r u b f o r e s t . Also many of t h e a r e a s most damaged by t h e typhoon a r e now c l e a r e d and occupied by i n s t a l l a t i o n s . However, t h e g e n e r a l l a c k of obvious typhoon e f f e c t s a f t e r t e n y e a r s i s i n l i n e with t h e p r i n c i p l e t h a t v e g e t a t i o n of a p i o n e e r c h a r a c t e r , such a s t h a t on d r y a t o l l s , r e c o v e r s i t s o r i g i n a l appearance and composition very r a p i d l y a f t e r damage. I t a l s o s u p p o r t s t h e i d e a t h a t most a t o l l p l a n t s p e c i e s have evolved means o f ready and q u i c k recovery from t h e e f f e c t s of typhoons, o v e r t h e m i l l e n i a t h a t t h e y have been exposed t o t h e s e s e v e r e s t o r m s .

V e g e t a t i o n

I n g e n e r a l t h e l a n d s u r f a c e of t h e i s l a n d h a s been almost completely d i s t u r b e d . I n a l l p r o b a b i l i t y no o r i g i n a l v e g e t a t i o n remains, e x c e p t p o s s i b l y some Sesuvium f l a t s and Pemphis s c r u b a l o n g t h e lagoon margins.

The f a c t t h a t almost t h e e n t i r e indigenous and spontaneous f l o r a o f t h e i s l a n d i s o f an extreme p i o n e e r c h a r a c t e r causes t h e secondary v e g e t a t i o n t o look r a t h e r n a t u r a l and at l e a s t some of t h e o r i g i n a l v e g e t a t i o n t y p e s t o r e c u r a f t e r d i s t u r b a n c e .

Of t h e s e , a s c r u b f o r e s t of T o u r n e f o r t i a , with o r w i t h o u t s c a t t e r e d Cordia and P i s o n i a , was i n 1963 t h e most p r e v a l e n t . I t s s t a t u r e v a r i e d from 2 t o about 6 m and s p a c i n g from c l o s e d t o open. T h i s had l i t t l e undergrowth where c l o s e d , b u t w i t h t h e branches very low and s p r e a d i n g and t h o s e of a d j a c e n t t r e e s u s u a l l y t a n g l e d t o g e t h e r . Where i t was open t h e r e was an abundant herbaceous t o scrubby growth o f manv

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s p e c i e s , e s p e c i a l l y S i d a f a l l a x , Meliotropiwn anomalum, Pluchea

o d o r a t a , Lepturus s p p . , and Boerhavia s p p . P o r t u l a c a l u t e a was common l o c a l l y , even o c c u r r i n g i n c l o s e d f o r e s t , b u t n o t i n very vigorous c o n d i t i o n . Occasional dead branches o f l a r g e r T o u r n e f o r t i a t r e e s , and even a few whole dead t r e e s , r e c o g n i z a b l e by l a c k of b a r k on t r u n k s and l a r g e r b r a n c h e s , p e r s i s t e d from t h e 1952 typhoon, b u t t h e s e d i d n o t change m a t e r i a l l y t h e a s p e c t of t h e v e g e t a t i o n .

Judging by t h e s t a n d of T o u r n e f o r t i a s e e d l i n g s on t h e c l e a r e d a r e a a t t h e west end of P e a l e I s l e t , t h i s t y p e may, under some c o n d i t i o n s , r e - e s t a b l i s h i t s e l f immediately a f t e r d i s t u r b a n c e , w i t h o u t any i n t e r - vening s u c c e s s i o n a l s t a g e s . Where i t does n o t , a s around i n s t a l l a t i o n s , t h e d i f f e r e n c e may u o s s i b l v be due t o comuaction. o r uerhaus t o comuet- . ^A i t i o n w i t h such a g g r e s s i v e p i o n e e r s a s Pluchea, and even Cenchrus, E r a g r o s t i s o r o t h e r h e r b s .

P i s o n i a f o r e s t , with o r without an admixture of Cordia, was

f o r m e r l y t h e most s t a b l e and mesophytic v e g e t a t i o n type on t h e i s l a n d . The o n l y good a r e a o f t h i s remaining i n 1953 ( a l s o s e e n i n 1961) h a s been completely d e s t r o y e d r e c e n t l y by o v e r z e a l o u s use of t h e b u l l d o z e r ,

l e a v i n g only b a r e ground. In a few n e a r b y a r e a s clumps of f a i r s i z e d P i s o n i a and Cordia t r e e s remained and, i f t h e s e could be l e f t u n d i s - t u r b e d , t h e P i s o n i a f o r e s t s o c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f c o r a l i s l a n d s might r e - e s t a b l i s h i t s e l f o v e r a long p e r i o d o f y e a r s . That t h i s w i l l be p e r m i t t e d t o happen seems improbable, however.

Small a r e a s o f Cordia s c r u b n e a r Peacock P o i n t , observed i n 1952 had i n c r e a s e d i n s t a t u r e somewhat, b u t were g r e a t l y reduced i n a r e a .

Pemphis s c r u b s t i l l l i n e d p o r t i o n s of t h e lagoon s h o r e b u t t h e a r e a had been g r e a t l y reduced s i n c e 1953 by c l e a r i n g . Some of t h e Pemphis bushes had i n c r e a s e d i n s t a t u r e t o s e v e r a l meters b u t were n o t a t a l l comparable t o c e r t a i n p a t c h e s o f Pemphis f o r e s t s e e n i n 1952.

Except f o r t h e T o u r n e f o r t i a scrub f o r e s t , Pemphis s c r u b was t h e most p r e v a l e n t r e a s o n a b l y n a t u r a l v e g e t a t i o n t y p e remaining on Wake.

A widespread v e g e t a t i o n complex on d r i e r a t o l l s i n t h e c e n t r a l P a c i f i c i s a s c r u b o f S i d a f a l l a x w i t h , normally, a s t r o n g admixture of Lepturus and, where i t i s a member o f t h e f l o r a , Heliotropium

anomalum. This was a l l u d e d t o b u t n o t emphasized o r d e s c r i b e d on Wake by Bryan i n 1923 ( C h r i s t o p h e r s e n 1931) and n o t n o t i c e d a t a l l by

Fosberg i n 1951-1953 (Fosberg 1959). However, two v a r i a n t s of t h i s complex i n 1963 occupied s m a l l a r e a s . On t h e c l e a r e d a r e a a t Kuku

3 P o i n t , on t h e west end of Wilkes I s l e t , and i n t h e ooenines i n

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T o u r n e f o r t i a f o r e s t n e a r b y ,

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S i d a , o r

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S i d a and Heliotropium formed an open t o c l o s e d very low s c r u b , with abundant Lepturus, P o r t u l a c a l u t e a , and Boerhavia where t h e bushes d i d n o t form a c l o s e d c o v e r . T h i s was d o u b t l e s s p r e s e n t l o c a l l y i n openings b e f o r e t h e c l e a r i n g which was

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done p r i o r A t o 1961.

T h i s s c r u b , i n much of t h e c l e a r e d a r e a back o f Kuku P o i n t , gave way t o herbaceous v e g e t a t i o n , l o c a l l y , i n p a t c h e s dominated by P o r t u l a c a , Boerhavia, L e p t u r u s , and i n one a r e a , Lepidium. The whole formed a

mosaic t h a t seems more o r l e s s random i n i t s p a t t e r n .

J u s t west o f Peacock P o i n t , back o f t h e s o u t h c o a s t of Wake I s l e t , were openings and t h i n p l a c e s i n t h e T o u r n e f o r t i a s c r u b and s c r u b

f o r e s t occupied by an open t o c l o s e d dwarf s c r u b of Heliotropium

anomalum. T h i s may simply have been missed d u r i n g e a r l i e r v i s i t s o r i t may have developed i n c l e a r e d s p o t s r e s u l t i n g from t h e 1952 typhoon.

T h i s a r e a was n o t v i s i t e d i n 1953.

Sesuvium f l a t s i n 1963 occupied perhaps more a r e a t h a n a decade b e f o r e , b e i n g s t i l l p r e s e n t on wet muddy o r sandy lagoon margins, a l s o

coming i n where e x c a v a t i o n had reached t h e w a t e r t a b l e , a s i n t h e b r a c k i s h pond i n t h e t r i a n g l e surrounded by runways and t a x i - s t r i p s o p p o s i t e t h e t e r m i n a l b u i l d i n g . The p l a n t s formed a s u c c u l e n t b r i g h t g r e e n mat i n low wet p l a c e s , b u t were more s c a t t e r e d on exposed beach r i d g e a r e a s on o t h e r p a r t s of t h e a t o l l .

Roadsides and o t h e r r e c e n t l y c l e a r e d a r e a s were mostly covered by a v e g e t a t i o n o f annual g r a s s e s and o t h e r h e r b s , e s p e c i a l l y

Cenchrus e c h i n a t u s , E r a g r o s t i s t e n e l l a , Dactyloctenium aegyptium, E l e u s i n e i n d i c a , and s e v e r a l Euphorbia s p e c i e s . Such a r e a s , i f l e f t w i t h o u t f u r t h e r d i s t u r b a n c e f o r a w h i l e . might change t o an open o r c l o s e d s c r u b o f Pluchea o d o r a t a . !&ere t r a f f i c i s U h e a v y t h e r e p e r - s i s t e d a s p a r s e "lawn" of dwarfed p l a n t s of Dactyloctenium, E l e u s i n e ,

F i m b r i s t y l i s and o t h e r h e r b s .

Before t h e 1963 v i s i t t h e w e a t h e r had been s u f f i c i e n t l y dry t h a t much of t h e herbaceous weedy v e g e t a t i o n was p r a c t i c a l l y d r i e d up, though by no means a s much s o a s i n May 1952. Many l e a v e s had

r e c e n t l y f a l l e n from t h e T o u r n e f o r t i a , b u t n o t s o many a s t o g i v e a dry a s p e c t . The l e a v e s o f Cordia and P i s o n i a were predominantly s t i l l

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g r e e n . A few of t h e P i s o n i a bushes were coming i n t o f l o w e r . F r u i t s and a few f l o w e r s were s e e n on C o r d i a .

Evidences of a r e c e n t s t o r m , o r , a t l e a s t , o f very high waves, were s e e n on b o t h n o r t h and s o u t h c o a s t s i n t h e form o f l a r g e a r e a s of p a l e g r a y t o w h i t e , presumably r e c e n t l y uncovered beachrock, w h i t e s t i r r e d up g r a v e l , and dead shrubs a t t h e t o p of t h e beach and j u s t back o f i t . The A i r Force o f f i c e r s p r e s e n t s a i d t h a t t h e p e r i o d o f high waves was i n October 1962.

The l i s t t h a t f o l l o w s i n c l u d e s a l l t h e s p e c i e s from t h e 1959 l i s t , with remarks on any change of s t a t u s from t h a t observed i n 1951-1953,

a s w e l l a s 27 s p e c i e s newly recorded h e r e . Of t h e l a t t e r 5 a r e c u l - t i v a t e d i n p o t s , 7 c u l t i v a t e d i n gardens, 14 a r e spontaneous b u t i n t r o d u c e d , and only one, T r i b u l u s c i s t o i d e s probably i n d i g e n o u s . A s i n t h e 1959 l i s t , i n t r o d u c e d s p e c i e s a r e marked by an a s t e r i s k .

S p e c i e s h e r e recorded f o r t h e f i r s t time from Wake a r e i n d i c a t e d by an exclamation p o i n t . A few name changes a r e recorded and m i s i d e n t i f i c a - t i o n s c o r r e c t e d . I n t h e s e c a s e s t h e name used i n t h e 1959 l i s t i s given a s a synonym.

The l o c a t i o n i n d i c a t e d a s t h e IAS compound i s on t h e s i t e o f t h e o l d TAL compound on t h e southwest arm of Wake I s l e t about 300 m e a s t of t h e channel. The Japanese monument i s on t h e n o r t h a n g l e of Wake I s l e t a s h o r t d i s t a n c e i n from t h e n o r t h bay of t h e lagoon.

F l i p p e r P o i n t i s t h e s o u t h p e n i n s u l a o f Peale I s l e t . Kuku P o i n t i s t h e west p o i n t of Wilkes I s l e t . The FAA Dock i s a t t h e west end of t h e southwest arm o f Wake I s l e t .

*PANVANUS TECTORIUS P a r k .

Same t r e e s e e n i n 1961 and 1963, much l a r g e r t h a n i n 1952.

GRAMINEAE

*CENCI-IRUS BROWN11 R . & S.

One p l a n t s e e n a t Japanese monument 1963, Fosberg 43522.

*CEXCtIRUS ECHINATUS L .

Generally d i s t r i b u t e d i n open d i s t u r b e d a r e a s , S a c h e t 898.

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"CHLORIS INFLATA Link

S t i l l common i n d i s t u r b e d a r e a s 1961, Sachet 895, a l s o s e e n i n 1963.

*CYNODON DACTYLON (L.) P e r s .

Seen i n IAS a r e a 1961, Sachet 873, one s i z e a b l e p a t c h on P e a l e

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I s l e t 1963.

*VACTYLOCTENIUM AEGYPTIUM (L.) Reich.

One o f t h e commonest p l a n t s i n d i s t u r b e d a r e a s , 1963.

*DIGITARIA CILIARIS ( R e t z . ) Koel.

Not s e e n i n 1961, 1963.

1 '

Specimens c i t e d a r e d e p o s i t e d i n t h e U . S . N a t i o n a l Herbarium, except a s o t h e r w i s e i n d i c a t e d .

*DIGITARIA GAUDICHAUDII (Kunth) Hens.

Not s e e n i n 1961, 1963.

*DIGITARIA INSULARIS (L.) Henr.

Cominon around o l d J a p a n e s e garden s i t e 1961, S a c h e t 894,

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a l s o s e e n 1963.

*ELEUSINE INDICA (L.) Gaertn.

C o l l e c t e d n e a r o l d Japanese garden i n 1961, S a c h e t 899.

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Common i n d i s t u r b e d p l a c e s and p e r s i s t i n g around former d i s t u r b a n c e , 1963; n e a r Terminal Area, Fosberg 43515.

*EIUGROSTIS TENELLA (L.) Beauv.

E . a m a b i l i s (L.) W . & A .

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G e n e r a l l y d i s t r i b u t e d and abundant i n open p l a c e s ,

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Sachet 872.

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*ERAGROSTIS POAEOIDES Beauv. e x R . & S . Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

LEPTURUS GASPARRICENSIS Fosb.

C o l l e c t e d i n IAS a r e a 1961, S a c h e t 865, 1963, abundant g e n e r a l l y

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on Wilkes, Fosberg 43533, and P e a l e , Fosberg 43512, b u t r a r e on Wake I s l e t .

LEPTURUS REPENS v a r . SEPTENTRIONALIS Fosb.

Common g e n e r a l l y Fosberg 43535, 43540, 43541, 43513; Sachet

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867, 888.

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LEPTURUS

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p u t a t i v e h y b r i d s between L . g a s p a r r i c e n s i s and L . repens v a r . s e p t e n t r i o n a l i s ( s e e ~ o s b e r g , P h y t o l o g i a 15: 496-&8, 1968).

Local on P e a l e I s l e t : n e a r b r i d g e , i n d e p r e s s i o n s , Fosberg 43510, s . e . t i p of i s l e t , 3 ; Toki P o i n t [ w . t i p o f P e a l e ] , McFarlane 26. These were mistaken

at

f i r s t f o r L . repens v a r . s u b u l a t u s Fosb.

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!*PASPALUM AURICULATUM P r e s l

C o l l e c t e d a t FAA Dock, 1961, S a c h e t 903, n o t s e e n 1963.

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*PASPALUM DISTICHUM L . P . vaginatum Sw.

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S e v e r a l p a t c h e s on P e a l e I s l e t , 1963. Examination of t h e t y p e o f P . distichum i n t h e ~ i n n e a n H e r b a r i u m , by C . E . ~ u b b a r d , s h o w e d t h a t i t i s t h e widespread p l a n t u s u a l l y known a s P . vaginatum Sw., c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f s a l i n e h a b i t a t s , r a t h e r t h a n t h e s i m i l a r f r e s h - water marsh p l a n t commonly known i n North America and Hawaii a s P . d i s t i c h u m .

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!*PENNISETUM POLYSTACHYUM ( L . ) S c h u l t e s

Found s t e r i l e a t FAA Dock 1961, Sachet 906, more abundant, f e r t i l e ,

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same p l a c e 1963, Fosberg 43538; west end of runway, 1965, McFarlane 76.

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*SETARIA VERTICILLATA (L.) Beauv.

Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

*SORGHUM DOCHNA v a r . TECHNICUM (Koern.) Snowd.

Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

*ZEA MAYS L.

Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

CYPERACEAE

*CYPERUS ROTUNDUS L .

C o l l e c t e d i n o l d Japanese garden s i t e 1961, Sachet 890, s e e n

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t h e r e a g a i n 1963, around FAA Club, i n 1965, McFarlane 67; and s e v e r a l p a t c h e s on P e a l e I s l e t , 1963. ( F i r s t n o t e d i n i 9 5 3 ) .

!*CYPERUS PUMILUS L.

C o l l e c t e d around o l d Japanese garden s i t e 1961, Sachet 889, n o t

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s e e n 1963, t h e only r e c o r d from M i c r o n e s i a . FIIvIBRISTYLIS CYMOSA R . B r .

G e n e r a l l y d i s t r i b u t e d , Fosberg 43534, Sachet

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874 and 883.

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These a r e t h e form with 2 s t y l e branches and smooth plano-convex n u t s sometimes c a l l e d F. a t o l l e n s i s S t . John. Both S a c h e t c o l l e c t i o n s have u n u s u a l l y l o z g s p i k e l e t s f o r t h i s s p e c i e s .

!*FIMBRISTYLIS DICHOTOMA ( L . ) Vahl

C o l l e c t e d a t FAA Dock i n 1961, S a c h e t 905, n o t s e e n 1963,

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n o t p r e v i o u s l y known from Wake, and uncommon on a t o l l s .

PALMAE

*COCOS NUCIFERA L.

A number o f s m a l l t r e e s s e e n around b u i l d i n g s 1963, none more t h a n 3 m t a l l .

ARACEAE

*CALADIUM s p .

Not s e e n 1961, 1963

*DIEFFENBACHIA s p .

Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

!*PHYLLODENDRON OXYCARDIUM S c h o t t Seen i n p o t 1963.

!*PHYLLODENDRON UNDULATUM Endl. ( 7 ) In p o t 1963.

*RHAPHIDOPtIORA AUREA (Lind. & Andr. l Birdsev Scindapsus aureus (Lind. & Andr.) E n g l .

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Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

PONTEDERIACEAE

*EICtlHORNIA CRASSIPES (Mart.

6

Zucc.) Solms-Laub.

Not s e e n 1961, 1963. Has undoubtedly d i s a p p e a r e d a s t h e c i s t e r n where i t grew seems no longer p r e s e n t .

!*RHOEO SPATHACEA (Sw.) S t e a r n Seen i n p o t 1963.

!*SETCREASEA PURPUREA Boom Seen i n p o t , 1963.

BROMELIACEAE

*ANANAS COMOSUS ( L . ) Merr.

Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

AGAVACEAE

*CORDYLINE FRUTICOSA (L.) Goepp.

C . t e r m i n a l i s (L.) Kunth

- Seen i n p o t s , 1963, n o t very f l o u r i s h i n g .

*SANSEVIERIA GUINEENSIS L

.

^, . Willd.

S . roxburghiana o f 1959 l i s t .

-

Seen i n p o t , 1963.

AMARY LLIDACEAE

*ALLIUM s p .

Not s e e n , 1963.

*CRINUM s p .

P l a n t e d around b u i l d i n g s , n o t f l o w e r i n g , 1952, 1953, 1961, 1963.

*HYMENOCALLIS LITTORALIS ( J a c q . ) S a l i s b . Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

CASUARINACEAE

*CASUARINA EQUISETIFOLIA L .

Commonly p l a n t e d around b u i l d i n g s , some t r e e s have reached 5 m t a l l , 1963.

8

MORACEAE

*FICUS CARICA L .

S t i l l p r e s e n t and f r u i t i n g , 2 m t a l l , 1963.

*FICUS RUBIGINOSA Desf.

Not s e e n , 1961, 1963.

POLYGONACEAE

*COCCOLOBA WIFERA (L.) L.

S t i l l p r e s e n t 1961, 1963; on P e a l e I s l e t a f a i r l y l a r g e t r e e i n 1963.

NYCTAGINACEAE BOERIdAVIA REPENS L .

B . d i f f u s a o f 1959 l i s t , n o t o f L .

-

Common g e n e r a l l y , 1961, S a c h e t 875, 893, 1963, i n p l a c e s v e r y

- -

abundant Fosberg 43527.

-

BOERHAVIA s p (white f l s . )

The w h i t e flowered p l a n t l i s t e d i n 1959, o c c u r r i n g g e n e r a l l y with B . r e p e n s , b u t l e s s common, Fosberg 43530, 43518, S a c h e t 876, 892.

- - - - -

BOERHAVIA s p .

O c c a s i o n a l , a p p a r e n t l y i n t e r m e d i a t e between t h e o t h e r s ,

-

Sachet 891.

-

"BOUGAINVILLEA SPECTABILIS W i l l d . ? Seen around houses 1961, 1963.

PISONIA GRANDIS R . B r .

T h i s , with C o r d i a , s t i l l formed a s c r u b f o r e s t 1961; i n 1963 only s c a t t e r e d t r e e s remained a f t e r p o i n t l e s s b u l l d o z i n g o f t h e one remaining a r e a o f o r i g i n a l f o r e s t ; s c a t t e r e d i n open

T o u r n e f o r t i a s c r u b b a s e of F l i p p e r P o i n t Fosberg 43514.

-

AMARANTHACEAE

*AMARANTHUS DUBIUS Mart.

Found i n 1952, and i n 1961, Sachet 887; o c c a s i o n a l l o c a l l y i n 1963.

-

*AMARANTHUS GRAECIZANS L.

Not s e e n , 1963.

*AMARANTHUS TRICOLOR L.

The specimen on which t h i s r e c o r d was b a s e d , F o s b e r g

-

34452, has been redetermined a s

-

A . d u b i u s .

*AMARANTHUS VIRIDIS L.

C o l l e c t e d 1963 Fosberg 43517, very r a r e i n open ground, Wake I s l e t .

-

A 1 ZOACEAE SESUVIUM PORTULACASTRUM L.

Common g e n e r a l l y i n low p l a c e s , e s p e c i a l l y along lagoon margins and o c c a s i o n a l l y on f l a t s n e a r o u t e r beaches, 1961, 1963. Stems u n u s u a l l y r e d

- -

t h i s t r u e g e n e r a l l y i n Wake p l a n t s , Sachet 864,

-

Southwest arm o f Wake I s l e t , f l o w e r s opening between 7 and 8 a.m.

PORTULACACEAE PORTULACA LUTEA S o l .

Common, c o l l e c t e d i n 1961, S a c h e t 877; 1963, e s p e c i a l l y abundant

-

i n c l e a r e d a r e a on west end of Wilkes I s l e t , Fosberg 43532. This i s a very t a l l form, branches u s u a l l y s t r o n g l y ascending, l i g h t g r e e n , no t r a c e of anthocyanin.

*PORTULACA OLERACEA L.

C o l l e c t e d i n 1961, S a c h e t 868; s e e n i n 1963; o c c a s i o n a l around

-

b u i l d i n g s and d i s t u r b e d a r e a s .

*PORTULACA SAMOENSIS v. P o e l l n . Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

CRUCIFERAE

*BRASSICA OLERACEA v a . ITALICA Plenck.

Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

LEPIDIUM BIDENTATUM Mont.

L . o-waihiense C . & S . of 1959 l i s t ( s e e Fosberg, P h y t o l o g i a 15: 499,

-

1968)

.

Found i n 1961, 1963. I n 1963 t h e Lake P e a l e colony s t i l l p e r s i s t s even though t h e pond h a s been b u l l d o z e d out of e x i s t e n c e . A l a r g e colony a l s o l o c a t e d , f l o u r i s h i n g , j u s t back o f beach a t Kuku

P o i n t , Wilkes I s l e t , 1961, Sachet 879, 1963, Fosberg 43526.

"RAPHANUS SATIWS L.

Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

CRASSULACEAE

"SEMPERVIVUM TECTORUM L . Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

*KALANCHOE PINNATA ( Lam. ) P e r s

.

P e r s i s t i n g i n IAS compound 1961, 1963.

10

LEGUMINOSAE

*BAUHINIA s p .

Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

!*DESMANTHUS VIRGATUS (L.) Willd.

Found i n 1965 a t t h e west end o f t h e runway on Wake I s l e t , McFarlane 74.

-

!*LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA (Lam.) de W i t

Seen on Peale I s l e t 1961, w e l l e s t a b l i s h e d i n same s p o t 1963, one p l a n t s e e n a l s o i n IAS compound, 1963; a p p a r e n t l y never c o l l e c t e d

on Wake.

*PHASEOLUS VULGARIS L.

Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

!*PHASEOLUS COCCINEUS L.?

One p l a n t s e e n i n garden, 1961, n o t s e e n 1963.

ZYGOPHYLLACEAE

!TRIBULUS CISTOIDES L.

C o l l e c t e d , Wilkes I s l e t n e a r c h a n n e l , 1961, Sachet 900, n o t s e e n ,

--

though s e a r c h e d f o r , 1963. Three p l a n t s only s e e n i n 1961. I t was c o l l e c t e d i n 1963 by McFarlane

-

1.

EUPHORBIACEAE

*CODIAEUM VARIEGATUM (L.) B 1 .

P l a n t e d around houses, 1963, a p p a r e n t l y t h r i v i n g .

*EUPHORBIA CYATHOPHORA Murr.

Very common i n 1961, perhaps somewhat l e s s s o , b u t s t i l l g e n e r a l i n d i s t u r b e d p l a c e s , 1963.

*EUPHORBIA GLOMERIFERA ( M i l l s p . ) Wheeler

Common, l o c a l l y abundant, 1961, 1963. Reaches a most unusual s t a t u r e and woodiness h e r e , S a c h e t

-

870, Fosberg 43520.

*EUPHORBIA HIRTA L .

Common i n r e c e n t l y d i s t u r b e d p l a c e s , 1961, Sachet

-

871, 1963.

*EUPHORBIA PROSTRATA A i t .

Occasional i n weedy p l a c e s on Wake I . i n 1961, Sachet

-

869, s e e n i n 1963.

*EUPHORBIA PULCHERRIbLA Willd.

Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

!*EUPHORBIA THYMIFOLIA A i t .

C o l l e c t e d 1961, Sachet 902, n o t s e e n 1963.

-

! *EUPHORBIA TIRUCALLI L.

Seen i n p o t i n housing a r e a , 1963.

! *PEDILANTHUS TITHYMALOIDES (L. ) P o i t

.

C o l l e c t e d i n IAS compound 1961, S a c h e t 884, s e e n t h e r e 1963.

-

*PHYLLANTHUS AMARUS Schum & Thonn.

F l o u r i s h i n g colony a t IAS compound, 1963, Fosberg 43524.

!*RICINUS COMMUNIS L .

Seen p l a n t e d i n IAS compound i n 1961, p e r s i s t i n g and a p p a r e n t l y t h r i v i n g i n 1963.

MALVACEAE

ABUTILON ASIATICUM v a r . ALBESCENS (Miq .) Fosb

.

A. a l b e s c e n s Miq.

-

Abundant around o l d Japanese garden s i t e i n 1961, S a c h e t 885 s e e n

-

a l s o n e a r MATS a r e a , n o t s e e n 1963.

GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM L.

G . r e l i g i o s w n o f 1959 l i s t .

- Widespread, l o c a l l y common, 1961, S a c h e t 882, 886 and 1963 Fosberg

- -

43516. According t o Paul F r y x e l l , who h a s r a i s e d Wake I s l a n d

-

m a t e r i a l i n c u l t u r e s , t h i s i s a form o f t h e s p e c i e s n o t known e l s e w h e r e . S . G. Stephens, who h a s a l s o r a i s e d i t s u c c e s s f u l l y from Wake I s l a n d s e e d s , r e f e r s t o i t a s "a w i l d form o f h i r s u t w n o f an unusual t y p e . "

"HIBISCUS (ornamental h y b r i d ) Seen i n 1961, n o t i n 1963.

SIDA FALLAX Walp.

Abundant on Wilkes I s l e t 1961, S a c h e t

-

880, 1963, Fosberg 43529,

-

o c c a s i o n a l e l s e w h e r e .

*THESPESIA POPULNEA (L.) S o l . ex Correa

P l a n t e d around housing a r e a s , and a p p a r e n t l y t h r i v i n g , i n 1963, a s w e l l a s p e r s i s t i n g i n IAS compound. I t was f i r s t found, on P e a l e I . , by Branckamp i n 1936 (BISH)

.

PASSIFLORACEAE

*PASSIFLORA s p .

Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

!*PASSIFLORA FOETIDA v a r . HISPIDA (DC.) K i l l i p

E s t a b l i s h e d a t IAS compound, 1961, S a c h e t

-

884a, s t i l l doing w e l l 1963; southwest c o r n e r o f Wake I . S a c h e t 878, and i n 1965,

-

McFarlane 77.

-

12

CARICACEAE

*CARICA PAPAYA L.

S t i l l p e r s i s t i n g a r o u n d IAS compound 1961, 1963.

CUCURBITACEAE

*CUCWIIS MELO L.

Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

*CUCURBITA PEP0 L.?

S e e n a t MATS a r e a 1961, n o t s e e n 1963.

PEbIPNIS ACIDULA F o r s t . f .

S t i l l a b u n d a n t 1 9 6 1 , 1963, e s p e c i a l l y a r o u n d l a g o o n s h o r e s ; p l a n t e d f o r h e d g e s i n h o u s i n g a r e a , 1963.

COMBRETACEAE

*TERMINALIA CATAPPA L.

P l a n t e d i n s e v e r a l p l a c e s and t h r i v i n g 1963, f a i r s i z e d t r e e a t IAS compound 1961, 1963.

*EUCALYPTUS CITRIODORA Hook.

Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

CACTACEAC

S e v e r a l c a c t i s e e n i n p o t s 1961, n o t s e e n 1963.

A M L I ACEAE

!*BMSSAIA ACTINOPHYLLA E n d l . S e e n i n 1961, n o t i n 1963.

*POLYSCIAS GUILFOYLEI (Cogn. & March.) B a i l e y S e e n p l a n t e d n e a r a h o u s e , 1963.

*ANEI'tIUPl GRAVEOLENS L . Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

*APILIM PETROSELINUM L.

Not s e e n 1961. 1963

SAPOTACEAE

*CIIRYSOPtIYLLU4 CAINITO L. ? Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

APOCYNACEAE

*CATlIAK,lN'l'-IUS ROSEUS (L. ) G

.

^Don

S e e n i n many p l a c e s , c u l t i v a t e d and e s t a b l i s h e d , 1961, 1963, Fosberg 43521.

*NEKIUI~ s p .

S e e n 1961, n o t 1963.

! *PLUMERIA CBTUSA L.

S e e n p l a n t e d around b u i l d i n g s 1961, 1963.

CONVOLVULACEAE

*1Pi)iiO~A III~TATAS (L. ) Lam.

Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

IPOMOlJA PES-CAPIIAE s s p . BilASlLIENSIS ( L . ) v . O o s t s t r . S t i l l common 1961, 1963.

IPO>IOEA TUB.:: ( S c h l e c h t

.

) Don

G e n e r a l l y abundant e x c e p t i n t h e most r e c e n t l y b u l l d o z e d a r e a s , 1 9 6 1 , 1963. Flowers open a b o u t d u s k , c l o s e mid-morning.

BOKAGINACEAE CORDIA SUBCOLlDATA Lam.

Well d i s t r i b u t e d , l o c a l l y conunon i n wooded p a r t s o f i s l a n d ,

1 9 6 1 , 1963, Fosberg 43519. F o r e s t o f t h i s s p e c i e s a n d P i s o n i a on bVake I s l e t d e s t r o y e d 1963.

IIELIO?'IIOI'IU?I K4o;~LALu.I tl. & A .

Comnion g e n e r a l l y , l o c a l l y a b u n d a n t , f o r m i n g p u r e s t a n d s i n open a r e a s on s o u t h c o a s t n e a r Peacock P o i n t , 1963. Xo f l o r a l

dimorvliisnl o b s e r v e d . A l l u l a n t s s e e n h e r e h a v e d e e v l v l o b e d w h i t e > ,

c o r o l l a s w i t h a t i n y y e l l o w e y e . W i l k e s I s l e t , n e a r Kuku P o i n t , 1:osberg 43528. Wake I s l e t , S a c h e t 866.

-

!*IIELIOTI1OPILBl OVALlFOLI~I v a r . DEPIIESSUM Cham.

F i r s t c o l l e c t e d 1961 n e a r I:&\ Dock, S a c h e t 9 0 4 ,

-

s t i l l comnion t h e r e 1963 Fosberg 43537, d o u b t l e s s i n t r o d u c e d f r o o ~ Guain, where i t i s common.

rOURNEFORTIA ARGENTEA L.

G e n e r a l l y abundant 1961, 1963.

LAB1 ATAE

*COLEUS SCUTELLARIOIDES L.

S t i l l s e e n 1961, n o t s e e n 1963.

VERBENACEAE

!*STACHYTARPHETA JAMAICENSIS L.

Abundant n e a r FAA Dock i n 1963, i n a d v e r t e n t l y n o t c o l l e c t e d . Depressed t o ascending h e r b with p a l e b l u e - v i o l e t c o r o l l a s , t h i c k s p i k e s . C o l l e c t e d by McFarlane

-

2 2 .

!*STACHYTARPHETA URTICIFOLIA Sims

C o l l e c t e d i n weedy a r e a a t n.w. t i p o f s o u t h arm of Wake I s l e t , 1961, S a c h e t 901.

-

A t a l l s h r u b , t o 2 m , w i t h dark b l u e o r p u r p l e f l o w e r s .

! *VITEX TRIFOLIA L.

F i r s t c o l l e c t e d on P e a l e I s l e t i n 1961, S a c h e t

-

896. Well e s t a b l i s h e d colony i n 1963, p l a n t s s e v e r a l m t a l l .

SOLANACEAE

*CAPSICUM ANNUM L.

Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

*CAPSICUM FRUTESCENS L.

Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

*NICOTIANA TABACrnl L.

Seen n e a r power house, one p l a n t o n l y , i n 1961, n o t i n 1963, though p o s s i b l y s t i l l p e r s i s t i n g .

*SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L.

Seen i n garden i n MATS a r e a 1961, n o t s e e n 1963.

ACANTI-IACEAE

! *PSEUDERANTHEiWM CARRUTHERSI I Seem.

Seen i n 1961, a l s o v a r . atropurpureum, n e i t h e r s e e n i n 1963.

GOODENIACEAE SCAEVOLA TACCADA (Gaertn. ) Roxb

.

S . s e r i c e a Vahl

-

Some p l a n t s s t i l l remain s o u t h of t h e main runway on Wake I s l e t , l e s s i n 1963 t h a n i n 1961, because o f b u l l d o z i n g ; a l s o s e e n p l a n t e d around house on n o r t h s i d e o f i s l e t .

COMPOSITAE

*CONYZA BONARIENSIS ( L . ) Cronq.

C o l l e c t e d s o u t h o f runway i n 1961, S a c h e t 897, common around

-

o l d IAS compound and' FAA Dock i n 1963.

!*CONYZA CANADENSIS (L.) Cronq.

F i r s t c o l l e c t e d s o u t h o f runway i n 1961, S a c h e t 897a, comon

-

around o l d IAS compound i n 1963, a l s o n e a r FAA Dock, Fosberg 43536, west end o f runway i n 1965, McFarlane 75, 79.

- - -

*LACTUCA SATIVA L .

Not s e e n , 1961, 1963.

*PLUCtIEA ODORATA ( L

.

⁾ Cas s

.

Very common t o abundant i n d i s t u r b e d p l a c e s g e n e r a l l y , seemingly more s o , e s p e c i a l l y on Wilkes and P e a l e I s l e t s , i n 1963 than 1961.

Dominant i n shrubby v e g e t a t i o n i n v a r i o u s p l a c e s .

*SONCHUS OLERACEUS L.

Not s e e n 1961, 1963.

CRYPTOGAMIC FLORA

!ALBUGO PLATENSIS (Speg.) Swingle

A common p a r a s i t e on Boerhavia r e p e n s , F o s b e r g 43511, 43531.

- -

T h i s s p e c i e s causes a change i n h a b i t , i n f e s t e d stems b e i n g e r e c t and much s h o r t e n e d i n s t e a d o f p r o s t r a t e and e l o n g a t e .

! *UROMYCES EUPIIORBIAE Cke. & P k .

A p a r a s i t e on Euphorbia p r o s t r a t a , Fosberg

-

^43523. This s p e c i e s , a l s o , c a u s e s a change i n h a b i t i n t h e h o s t ; i n f e s t e d stems a r e e r e c t and t h e i n t e r n o d e s a r e e l o n g a t e .

I d e n t i f i c a t i o n s of f u n g i by J . A. Stevenson.